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34
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Above In bare tool costs, electric models are
about the same or less than gas units. And
their energy sources are predicted to decrease
in price thanks to the development of sodium
ion batteries, which, when compared to
lithium ion batteries, are cheaper to make but
reported to have, at present, shortcomings that
limit their effectiveness to uses where weight
and energy density aren't as important.
Left This Solar Assisted Mower (S.A.M.)
option not only shades the operator, but ener-
gy collected from its solar cells is immediately
converted to power for use by the pure
electric machine.
landscape professionals, to do the work
in an efficient and effective way without
producing harmful carbon emissions," he
says. "We are hearing from our clients,
particularly from large property manage
-
ment firms, that it is important to them
and their tenants to be environmentally
friendly and to do their part to ensure a
healthy future for our communities."
Looking further down the line, Glueck
offered sodium ion technology as having,
"very high hopes for the industry."
He explained that since lithium is a
rare earth element, and a finite mineral, it
impacts the cost-effectiveness of battery-
operated OPE on a professional level. But
with sodium in such abundance, lower
battery costs lessens that impact.
Glueck asserts that these materials hold
on to energy very well, which should
increase the capacities of batteries made
from them. But currently, the tradeoff
is that charge times are longer than, and
discharge is not as quick as, lithium ion
batteries.
"Science is working on those two hur
-
dles, which are vast, but I see that as the
next evolution of bringing battery costs
down," he predicts.
The process of charging batteries is
another area of focus for improvement.
Glueck points to EV charging stations,
4000 locations and growing, as an in
-
frastructure that offers potential for this
– for instance replenishing batteries at a
station during a lunch break.
And increasing the speed to complete a
charge will also be a big help. He expects
that advancement to likewise come from
the automotive industry and then be ad
-
opted by OPE manufacturers. At present,
Tesla's rapid charger boasts a 45-minute
charge cycle and there are companies
claiming theirs can do it in 15 minutes.
Something that Glueck has "been try
-
ing to push, is a way to charge on-the-
go and limit the amount of batteries on
the truck."
However, a cost analysis he did on
using deep-cycle, lead-acid batteries to
charge equipment batteries in the field
showed that it was almost as expensive
as just buying more equipment batteries,
which then leads back to the issue of bet
-
ter battery management and ease of use.
Motors are getting smaller, as are the
electronic circuit boards that control
them, which will facilitate increasing per
-
formances out of smaller packages.
Finally, when asked for a prediction of
how long it might be before battery-pow
-
ered equipment will be the rule instead
of the exception in the landscape indus
-
try, Glueck referenced a German law that
mandates that combustion engines will
no longer be available for sale in that
country starting in 2030.
In the end though, it might be the peo
-
ple that landscapers work for that affect a
complete transition. John Chiarella, who
as owner of Ultimate Services, a profes
-
sional grounds management company,
has logged about 50 years in the industry
(see page 26), admits that though battery-
powered equipment isn't quite on par
with gas-powered models yet, "Sooner or
later customers are not going to want any
noise or any pollutants and that probably
will be the only way to go."
LC
DBM
PHOTO: GREENWORKS
PHOTO: MEAN GREEN MOWERS